Actions

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warning:
Category:
Fandom:
Relationship:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Stats:
Published:
2025-01-02
Completed:
2025-05-25
Words:
1,875
Chapters:
3/3
Comments:
24
Kudos:
178
Bookmarks:
11
Hits:
1,580

Words Not Yet Said

Summary:

Gwaine would like to preface that *obviously*, he never meant for any of this to happen.
----
In which Sir Gwaine of Camelot has fallen in love with his best friend.

Chapter 1

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Gwaine would like to preface that *obviously*, he never meant for any of this to happen.

He dove to the side as a shriek descended from the sky. He heard his cloak tear as talons caught the fabric behind him.

After all, how was he supposed to know exactly which caves had wyverns in them?

Arthur pulled him to his feet as he ran by, “Come on men, there’s cover up ahead!”

Gwaine didn’t mean for that to happen either, him swearing fealty to a king, a Pendragon at that. Gwaine used to live his life as a wanderer, passing every day in a different town and every night under a new patch of sky. It didn’t used to be just another Tuesday that he found himself in mortal danger.

“There’s more of them!” Leon called out as more calls came from the sky. Gwaine heard the wingbeats behind him and quickly turned, catching a wyvern in the leg with his sword. It screeched, and Gwaine resisted the urge to clap his hands over his ears.

These weren’t even the things that surprised Gwaine the most about his new life.

A new sound came from behind them, an echoing voice rumbling a language none of them could understand. The wyverns spiraled back up into the sky.

“You lot couldn’t even make it five minutes without getting into trouble.”

And there he was, eyes shimmering gold in the sunlight. Merlin. Gwaine’s best friend, who he was hopelessly in love with. Sir Gwaine was absolutely fucked.
---
Gwaine couldn’t remember falling in love with Merlin. He couldn’t point to any day and go ‘there, that’s where it happened.’ It was gradual, he slowly started loving his friend until one day he looked up and realized everything was different.

That every time Merlin came to him smiling it made him feel light. Every time Merlin came onto the training field Gwaine hoped he would seek him out.

Now, as Merlin’s eyes faded back to blue Gwaine delighted in having that gaze fixed on him. “Maybe the trouble is worth it if we have you to rescue us.” Gwaine winked, and Merlin rolled his eyes, chuckling under his breath. He walked toward Gwaine, and put a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s as if mortal peril brings out the flirt in you Gwaine.” Merlin’s eyes sparked gold, and Gwaine’s cloak and armor were restored. ‘It’s you’, Gwaine’s mind whispered softly.

“Much obliged, Merls.” Merlin’s hand rubbed Gwaine’s shoulder absentmindedly, and Gwaine’s skin alighted at the contact. Merlin looked away, sharp eyes scanning the rest of the group.

“Is everyone unharmed?” Affirmations came from the group and Merlin nodded at them all. “Arthur, what did I specifically tell you about wandering?” Merlin playfully chided, raising an eyebrow in mocking disapproval.

“I do believe you told him not to, Merlin.” Lancelot helpfully supplied. The knights guffawed as Arthur glowered at them.

“And what did I tell you about being insufferable?” Arthur shot back.
Merlin shrugged, sauntering back the direction he came, “I don’t believe I was listening.”

Arthur scoffed, and quickly caught up. “Perhaps you should make listening to your king a habit, Mer-lin.” Merlin hummed, and nodded thoughtfully.

“If ever he has anything intelligent to say, perhaps I will.” Arthur opened his mouth to retort, but Leon cut in.

Gwaine let the conversation flow around him as he watched Merlin. He loved to see him like this. In the woods among his friends, his quick wit and easy humor on display, he was completely content. He smiled back at Gwaine, and he threw his arm around the sorcerer’s shoulders. Three words looping in Gwaine’s head over and over ‘I love you’.

Notes:

Hi! I know I have an active work in progress but it is so difficult to write a long plot. I usually only ever have my silly little one-shots I write. Here's one of my half finished ones. I want to write a big confession and get together but I can't for the life of me figure out how it all comes out. That's part of why I named the title as I did, it's a little joke for myself as most of my titles are lol. I'll probably come back to this one I hate leaving a good love story unfinished. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2

Chapter Text

In quiet moments, Gwaine liked to imagine what he would say to Merlin. He tried to think of how to confess to his dearest friend. He’s imagined a grand romantic gesture, filling his chambers with daisies and watching him beam. He’s imagined bringing him out to the woods, just the two of them for an afternoon. Under the stars on the parapets, over a shared meal. ‘Maybe,’ he catches himself thinking, ‘it’ll start just like this’.

Merlin is pulling him along corridors, stifling giggles as Gwaine’s besotted ass trails behind him. Merlin stops, and gestures for Gwaine to look around the corner. With a smile, he does, and almost bites his tongue trying not to burst out laughing. Arthur is using one hand to keep his hair out of his face, blond locks that are now twice the length of Gwaine’s own. Some shifting shadow must give them away, because Arthur spots them suddenly. “Merlin!” He starts towards them, and they backtrack, Arthur’s calls growing fainter as they climb the stairs up to the parapets.

At the top, Merlin puts his hands on his knees and lets out breathless laughter. Gwaine claps a hand to his back and laughs with him.

“Merlin, mate, you’re brilliant! His face!” Merlin smiles at him as he straightens out.

“You should’ve seen him when he realized he couldn’t cut it.” Gwaine burst out laughing again, wrapping an arm around Merlin’s shoulders and pulling him in.
“You never cease to amaze me, Merls.” He looked back into Merlin’s eyes and his breath caught. He was so beautiful. His eyes were bright from laughter and his cheeks were slightly flushed from running through half the castle. Gwaine wished he could bottle the feeling of being here with him.

Merlin brushed his hands along Gwaine’s arms, and Gwaine returned to the moment, shaking off his stupor.

“Well,” he turned back to Merlin, “how long are you going to let him walk around like that?” Merlin laughed, and laced his hands behind his back, leisurely walking along the wall.

“Ohhhh, if I have my way, at least three days.” Gwaine snorted and Merlin turned back to see him laugh.

“What crime has our lovely princess committed?” Gwaine waggled his eyebrows.

“If you must know, he’s been particularly prat-like this past week.” Merlin rolled his eyes. “I honestly don’t know what he thinks I do all day.” He gave an exasperated sigh. “Anyway, what have you been up to, I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages, how’s prepping for your tournament events going?” Curious eyes were focused on him, and Gwaine smiled easily at the other man.

“I agree, two days is too long to be deprived of your company.” Gwaine thought he saw Merlin blush before he turned to look at the forest beyond. “It’s going well, Leon has been helping me with the joust. He also let slip that you and Morgana had a surprise planned for the opening ceremonies?”

Merlin chuckled quietly, “I’m not sure it’ll be much of a surprise, two sorcerers performing magic.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fantastic, you always are.” Gwaine laughed when he definitely saw Merlin’s cheeks dust pink. “Did you hear that, my lord sorcerer, I bet you’ll be absolutely captivating as always.” Gwaine heard the honestly flooding his tone, and saw Merlin’s eyes widen slightly.

“You really think so?” Merlin asked almost hesitantly, hopefully, and Gwaine felt it catch at something in his chest.

“I’d never lie to you, Merls.” He replied earnestly. Merlin’s smile settled, and he opened his mouth to speak before something seemed to distract him, he frowned at something distantly.

“Arthur seems to be asking Mordred to contact me. Regrettably I have to go deal with this.”

Gwaine was intimately aware of how close they walked as he felt Merlin’s hand against his from time to time. Each time he glanced over and saw the soft smile on his friend’s face his heart fluttered. Words he was never quite brave enough to say sitting on the tip of his tongue.
Back in his chambers he lay, the memory replaying again and again. He fixated on the hope he swore he saw in Merlin’s eyes. Gwaine clung to his courage and hoped it would hold in the morning.

Chapter 3

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

‘Courage, my ass.’ Gwaine couldn’t help but think to himself as he hastily made his way around the corner. He had been avoiding Merlin all day, and he only hoped the sorcerer didn’t notice. It felt harder than usual, not that he had ever tried before, and Gwaine was trying to prepare damn it.

Out in the meadow gathering flowers, Merlin just missed him as he ducked back into the city gates. Trying to sweet talk the cook into making one of Merlin’s favorites for dinner, and the man himself arrives shortly after. Gwaine can hear his voice echoing as he leaves by a side door. Gwaine ransacking the whole castle for a suitable candle holder, and it feels like Merlin is hot on his heels the whole way. Irony was that Merlin would probably know exactly where they were if he could just ask.

Gwaine knew he was being a coward, but he rationalized that he was saving his courage for tonight. That was smart, right? Besides, if he looked at Merlin now, and saw that nothing had changed, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to go through with it. If he let himself hope and plan and could no longer see that Merlin might feel the same way… He shook his head and opened another cabinet. Triumphantly pulling out a candle holder, he decided to take it as a sign, and blew out a breath, smiling.
-
‘This is it’ Gwaine thought as he looked over his room again. His windows were opened, letting in the setting sun and a nice breeze. Candles were artfully scattered around the table, two plates were set out, and Gwaine tried his best to tie the flowers he had gotten into a bouquet. He neatened his strangled pile of flowers, ‘it’s the thought that counts’ he tried to console himself as the door opened to reveal his best friend.

“Gwaine!” Merlin’s voice was cheery, but his smile was uncharacteristically shy. He looked around the room, eyes widening as he took it all in, settling on Gwaine, standing next to the table. “Well, I guess these will be a good match then.” Gwaine noticed for the first time that Merlin had his own arrangement of wildflowers, and a cask of mulled wine if the sweet scent were any indication.

“You brought me flowers?” Gwaine asked, warmth slowly filling his chest. “These are for you.” He quickly brought up his own bouquet, and Merlin beamed. Setting the wine and both bouquets on the table, Merlin reached out to Gwaine again. He took his hands, and simply stated, “Gwaine, I love you.”

Gwaine was absolutely floored, and he brought Merlin in closer, lips gently meeting. Merlin surged forward at the contact, and Gwaine’s hands instinctively wrapped around his back. They broke apart, foreheads touching, one of Merlin’s hands carding through Gwaine’s hair. Gwaine chuckled softly.
“I had a whole speech prepared, Merls. But as usual, you came crashing through my plans.” Gwaine pulled back slightly, to look Merlin more fully in the eyes. “I love you too Merlin, I have for a while now. You are my best friend, and I never thought I’d be lucky enough to be the one you chose to love too.”

“It’s not luck,” Merlin promised, “it’s you.”

Notes:

Yay! I got to write the ending! Chapter Two had been staring at me from my draft folder so I finished it and this chapter in basically one sitting. I have an idea of writing an epilogue from Merlin's point of view but for now I am content to let it stand as is. I might possibly combine these into just one chapter at some point, but we'll see how I feel next time I reread this. I hope y'all enjoy!